Machine for slicing cheese or the like in various shapes and sizes



April 20, 1948'. A.- F..BUROFF MACHINE FOR SLICING CHEESE, OR THE LIKE, IN VARIOUS SHAPES AND SIZES Filed Dec 10, 1945' 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 20, 1948. A. F. BUROFF MACHINE FOR SLICING CHEESE, OR THE LIKE, IN VARIOUS SHAIES AND SIZES Filed Dec. 10, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR I Y ALVIN .FBUROFE avg ATTORNEYS April 20, 1948.

A. F. BUROFF MACHINE FOR SLICING CHEESE, OR THE LIKE IN VARIOUS SHAPESAND SIZES Filed Dec. 10, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ALVIN F.BUROFF ATTORNEYS April 20, 1948. -A BURQFF 2,439,840

MACHINE-FOR SLICING CHEESE, OR THE LIKE, I'N VARIOU$ SHAPES AND SIZES Filed Dec. 10, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ALVIN F.BUF\OFF ATTORNEYS April 20, 1948., A. F. BUROFF MACHINE FOR SLICING CHEESE, OR THE LIKE, IN VARIOUS SHAPES AND SIZES Filed Dec. 10, 1945 5 sheets sheet 5 INVENTOR ALVIN F.BUP\OFF ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 20, 1948 eke MACHEN E FOR SLICINGICHEE f ORf LIKE 1N VARIOUS SHAPES ikND'SIZES Alvin Burofl", Columbus, Application December 10, 1945,.3eria1 K056341021 l -My invention has for its primary object to provide a machine for cutting or slicing bulk icheese into a variety of pieces and sizes, the same being of that general type such as disclosedjn my pending patent application, bearing Serial- .No.f612,149.

'Affurther object of my invention is to provide a horizontally disposed fixed platen upon which is fed, step by step, a bulkcheesegfollowedby a downward reciprocation movement of a gang "slicer or cutter, all actions being controlled by a combined crank driven pitman and cam .mo'urited upon a driven shaft, the cheese being fed by flights of an endless chain travelling intermittently by means of clutch control.

A further specific object of my invention is .to provide horizontally disposed fixed wire cutters positioned in the path-of travel of a bulk cheese, whereby the same'may be cut into thin layers as it travels towards the vertically reciprocative gang of slicingwires.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention .resides -in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appendedclaimsit 'being understood that such changes in'the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

"In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example 'of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode sofar devised for'the practical application of the'princ'iples thereof.

. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a sectional side elevation of a machine embodying the features of my invention, the section being indicated by line l-"l of Fig.2.

-tion'being indicated by line '5-5 of Fig.6.

Fig. 6 isa plan view of the same, partlyin section, as indicated by line "ii- 6 of Fig. 5.

3-Claims. (Cr er-ac) nec'ted by four transverse *bra'ce strips 2 l Fig! {is an enlarged fragmentary elevation illustrating t'heconveyorchain-controlling:mechanism in'sectio'n, as indicated by line i-l of Fig-.'8.

*Figxsfis a pl-an view e'f the =same,-p'ar.tly 'in-section, as indicated 'by line ii-"8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. "9 'is acrossjseetional view illustrating the frictional clutch me'chanism and conveyor chain mechanism, the section-being indicated :by line ,ss of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9a is a detail view -of the telescopic clutch members disconnected, and I "Figures 10 i6 inclusive, illustrate blocks or *bulk cheese "-in various designs, cut or sliced into *di'iferent "sized pieces -by the machine.

Referring by characters to the drawings, with especial reference to Figures -1 to 4 inclusive, 1

- indicatesa-Skleton frame having secured thereto Ueshaped side panels 2, carrying angle iron tracks uponavhich travels endless chains *4,"connected byflightrods 5 spac'ed aparta sufficient distance "for inserting -a cheese therebet-ween, as -i-ndicated' in dotted lines A.

' {The chains are trained over pairs of idle --spreket =wheels Wand driven sprocket wheels 1 -mourited upon shafts 7 6 and 1' respectively,

whichshafts are giournaled in the panels.

pA'sprooket wheel 'l'fi loosely mounted upon the f-shaft *l, is drivenby 'a -chain belt -8 from a 'sprocket wheellmounted on a shaft l0 journaled =in-areduction-gear box-H and abearing l I, both of whichare'secured *to' theskeleton frame braces "I, forming part of "the machine frame. The --reduction-gear train ='(not shown) in the gear box "isdriven by -*a motor 1 2, suitably mounted upon the -fra-me.

The shaft ti] -.also-carries-a sprocket-pinion l3,

inchainbelt connection'with'a sprocket wheel 1 3, which sprocket wheel-is secured to a stud shaft jl l suitably-journale'din -a 'lower-'skeleton brace bracket 1 'I 0f the frame.

The stud shaft 1'4 has mounted thereon a crank disc-I 5. ?I"l le{c lisc is connected, by a pitman I 6; to a vertically reciprocative -cross head crosshead is secured to-apair of'rods Eikwhich'Tods i are reciprocatively guided in cars l"8",-c"arried by'the fr'ame. *Iheupper-ends'of the rods are secured "to'a eutting-=head l ahaving latera llyt'eiitendedears 7| 9" which are adjustably se- -cured"to the "rods P8, was-best indicated in Figures '1 "and "3' (if the drawings.

iThe icut'ter head l9 -is:of the skeleton frame type and "has secured'theretoa series ofparallel cutting wires 20. The U-shaped-panelsjZ are con- The center pair of the brace strips have secured thereto a plate 22 in vertical alignment with the cutter head. This plate has secured thereto an edge flanged and transversely ribbed platen 23 and said platen is provided with slots 24, which slots are aligned with the cutting wires of the cutter head, the same being adapted. to enter said slots 24 when the head has reached its extreme downward position. i

The front and rear pairs of the brace strips 2| have secured thereto bed-plates 2525', upon the same horizontal plane as the platen 23 and, in effect, these bed-plates form an interrupted roadbed, whereby a cheese will travel from end to end thereon. I

The panels are provided with pairs of upstanding ears 26, adjacent their ends, and said ears serve as adjustable supports for longitudinally positioned cheese guide rails 21, the same being provided with outwardly extended rods 28, which pass through the ears and are locked in their adjusted positions by thumb screws, as shown.

For the purpose of horizontally splitting a cheese, under certain conditions, I provide a pair of cutting wires 29, which wires are transversely disposed across and above the road bed and are secured to fingers extending upwardly from the platen bed. It will be noted that the cutting wires are positioned just forward of the cutting head l9 to clear the same.

Under certain conditions in the operation of the machine, it is necessary to stop the chain and to reverse its feeding travel. Hence, I provide a friction clutch, adjustable as to-tension, between the chain driving sprockets and the power sprocket I", particularly illustrated in Figures 1, 9 and 9a of the drawings.

The driving sprocket wheel 1" carries a sleeve 3| loosely mounted upon the shaft 1', which sleeve serves as a bearing for one of the chain sprocket wheels 1, adjacent to the driving sprocket wheel 1". The said sprocket wheel 1 has brazed, or otherwise secured, thereto a pair of sectors 32 and said sectors have riveted to their inner faces frictional linin plates 33, the same being engageable with the surface of the sprocket wheel sleeve 3|.

The sector plates 32, in conjunction with similar sector plates 33', form a cylinder, when interlocked, it being understood that the cylinder 32' is brazed, or otherwise secured, to the hub of the chain sprocket 1, which sprocket is loosely mounted upon the shaft 1' opposite the power sprocket 1''. Hence, when; the interlocked sections of the cylinder 32' are assembled, they will rotate as a single element and the lining plates, which engage the sleeve 3|, will frictionally grip the assemblage, causing the companion pair of sprocket wheels I to rotate together. Obviously when a predetermined load is placed upon the conveyor chains 4, the same will come to a full stop while the sleeve 3| will rotate idly, it being understood that the cylinder 32' is rigidly secured to the shaft 1 by the locking bolt 32".

In order to adjust and vary the tension load of this friction clutch mechanism, I provide a pair of oppositely disposed bolts 3434, which bolts extend through the cylinder sectors 32 from opposite sides and are loosely rotatable in the apertures of said sectors. The ends of these bolts are in threaded engagement with a pair of links 35 having apertures loosely mounted upon the com panion bolts. Coil springs 36 are interposed between the links and the shaft 1', through which .the bolts also extend.

From the foregoing, it will be -noted-that when it is desired to vary the friction resistance between the lining plates 33 and the sleeve 3|. the bolts are manipulated to vary the tension of the coil springs, whereby the slippage to retard or reverse travel of the chains is effected.

In order to stop the travel of the conveyor chain 4 in its cheese feeding course, as best shown in Figures 1, 7 and 8, I provide a pair of lugs 31 adjustably secured to arms 38, the said arms being connected by a link 39 to a spring controlled lever 40, pivoted to the frame. The said lever is forked at its free end, for the reception of a rod 4| having a pin 42 extending transversely of the forked lever and above the same. The rod 4| is guided at its upper end by an apertured bar 43, anchored in the frame sides.

The lower. end of the rod 4| is pivotally connected-to a spring controlled rock-arm 44, the

same being provided at its free end with a roller 45, as best indicated in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings. As shown, the rock-arm 44 is pivoted to ears extending from the frame. The rock-arm roller 45 is of suflicient length that, under certain conditions, it will engage the periphery of the disc I-5, and when freed from. such engagement, due to cut away portions of the disc, it will engage the periphery of a cam 46 carried by the disc, upon its rear face, for controlling the position of the stop lugs 31.

,From theforegoing description, with reference to said stop lugs, it will be obvious when the disc |5 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the high face a: of the cam will engage the roller 45 and cause the rock-arm, with its associated rod 4|, to lift, whereby the rock-arm pin 42 will exert pressure upon the forked end of a bell-crank lever 41. The lever is pivoted to the frame, with its upper arm connected to an arm 38, whereby the pair of lugs 31, which are in the field of a flight rod 5, will cause the chain to move backwardly a short distance. In this movement the lever 40 will remain at rest and its link 39 will simply rock backward and forward.

It is apparent, in the continued rotation of the disc IS, the rock-arm roller 45 will, due to its spring tension, drop downinto the pocket 11 of they cam 46, in which position the pin 42, of the rod, will cause the lever and its link connection, to move downwardly, whereby the lugs 31, of the chain stop mechanism, will be drawn down clear of the flight rod 5, thus freeing the conveyor chain, whereby the friction clutch mechanism will cause the chain to travel in its forward feed direction.

When the 'fiight rodSa reaches the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will have moved a cheese A, indicated in dotted lines, to a position in vertical central alignment with the cutting head l9.

To stop the cheese in its aligned position, with reference to the cutter head, I provide a central disposed stop finger 48, as best indicated in Figures 1, 5 and 6. The stop finger normally projects above and between the platen and bedplate, whereby the rear edge of the cheese will abut the same.

-A tail piece 48', ofv the .stop finger, is slotted at its rear end and adjustably secured to a rocking stem 49, which stem is pivotally mounted in cars depending from the'rear bed-plate25fi A slotted arm 48"- of this tail piece extends downwardly from the stem 49 and is connected by a coil spring 50, which, in turn, is anchored to the plate22.- r

The rear angle iron cross piece 2| is provided genders g {with 'i'ipjst neinfg I s ier-pivotal co nection w th g 52', eataremg therefrom,

rer-engag'emeet ith the' sliitted- 48". The dr'iiibsite' en or the hub e1 haseiitended anew r-remaieg '53, which leg, atits free end, has aa- Zius tabl'y mount-te e rams "trip-lug 54, which l'iig fis normally positioned above the line"'of "trav rcr the fligfitfrods i J W-heh ithe stop ffinger 48 1's Linitsf'norifnal positio'n above fireplace or brat/e1 of the cheese, as shown in Figure 5, the said stop finger is depre's'sed, when the 'lower edge of the cutting or slicing head 19 engages said stop finger in its downwardtrav'el to'slice a cheese. When so engaged, the finger is locked in its depressed position by the dog 52and'slottedarm'fl". However,

in this locked position, the trip-lug 5-! is within the path of travel of the flight rods and when a flight rod engages the trip-lug, it will rock the leg 53, dog and stop-finger'dfl upwardly, to its normal cheese stop positior 'of rest, preparatory to engagement with the backedgeof a cheese.

From the foregoing description, it will be noted that all mechanisms, with reference to feeding and slicing cheese, are adjustable or interchangeable, whereby different designs of cut or sizes may be varied, as indicated in Figures to 16 of the drawings. For such variations, the head I9 will be interchangeable, to include variations in the design or arrangement of wire cutters, as, for example, when a round cheese is cut into radial wedges, as indicated in Fig. 14, the slicing wires will be arranged accordingly in the cutter head frame 1-9.

To accommodate various widths of cheeses, the rails 21 would be adjusted to guide the same and the stop finger 48 would also be adjusted to compensate for the size of a bulk cheese, also a platen plate 22 would be supplied to conform with the cutter head [9.

In the operation, a bulk cheese would be placed upon the bed-plate 25, at the feed end of the machine. A flight rod 5 would then engage the front wall of the cheese and slide it along the bed, until it reaches the center of the platen, at which point the cheese would be stopped by the finger 48. The conveyor chain would also come to rest, due to slippage of the friction clutch mechanism, mounted upon the shaft 1'. Referring particularly to Fig, 1 of the drawings, the slicing head I 9 would then move downwardly, incidental to rotation of the crank disc l5, in the direction of the arrow.

When the cutting wires have partly severed the cheese, a frame of the cutter head [9 will engage and depress the finger 48 to clear the surface of the bed, and said finger would be locked, in its depressed position, by the dog 52. The cutter head will then complete its downward movement, at which time the wrist pin connection of the disc I5 will be in its lowest position and the cutting wires will have entered the slots in the platen 32.

It will also be apparent that the flight rod 5a will be stopped in its position, due to the fact that the locking lug 31 has engaged the flight rod 5a and thus securely holds the conveyor against movement.

Prior to the depression of the stop finger 48, the flight rod 5a is cleared from the cheese A, whereby the head may complete its downward slicing movement and not engage said rod 5a. To accomplish this result, the cam track 46, indicated at the point :6, will cause the rock-arm 44 to lift, whereby the bell-crank lever 41 will be engaged bytlfe' pin 42 of tneiroek arm rod 41, and "the '38, tvith associated' lugs 31, will be sacred towards the dis'ehiai'r"ge end of thebe'ol. -This action Will-oausethe lugs--31, which are in engagement 'with thefiight rod 5, to move the lower strip of the chain end towards the friction clutch; By this actiohthe flight rod 5awill make a sli'ght backward movement, to thus clear the 'p'athof travel oft'he cutter head. r g

-In *o'rder toie'ed' the'cut cheese to the rear end ofthe bed, "the con-veyor chain must now be released, whereby themed- 5a and "friction c'lu tc'h, will cause "the severed cheese to slide rea'r'wardly and be dis'chargedwliich movement is effected by the fiight-rod "5a again engaging and sliding said cheese rearwardly. j i 'The'chain release is accomplished by the rockarm roller "45 dropping downwardly, as it travels over thedepression'in' 'the cam track 4 6, indicated at t-he -point "y, This action causes the 'r'od '4l, 'as'oc'ia'te'd with the "rock-"arm, to movedownwardly'wherebythe tin- 4 2, of said ro'd,will*engage the-lever Ell-arid, through its link connection, draw the arm 38, and its associated lug 31, downwardly toclear the path of travel of the flight rod 5.

When the cheese, in its discharge movement, has passed beyond the stop finger 48, the said stop finger is released from its depressed locked position by one of the flight rods 5, which engages the trip cam lug 54, as best indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. This lifting movement, upon the leg 53, will cause the dog 52 to be released from its engagement with the slotted arm 48", whereby the spring 50, associated with said arm, will permit the stop finger 48 to rise in its normal stop position, as shown.

Referring to Figures 10 to 16 inclusive, showing variations in the cut of the cheese A, wherein round cheeses are sliced in parallel blocks and segments, a cube cheese is sliced in both directions, and a round cheese is sliced in wedges. A represents one of the individual cuts of cheese, which has been cut from a cheese A.

While I have disclosed a slicing head embodying a frame with wire cutters, in some instances I may employ knife blade cutters for the head, when the machine is to be used as a cake or bread slicing machine.

I claim:

1. A slicing machine for food products comprising a bed, a reciprocative slicing head above the bed, an endless conveyor having flights adapted to travel over the bed, a slip clutch driving means therefor, a movable stop finger projecting above the bed under control of the con veyor flights, a shiftable conveyor stop-lug, means for reversing the travel of the feed conveyor, and a cam for actuating the conveyor stop-lug and reversing means.

2. A cheese slicing machine comprising a horizontal bed-plate including a platen, a friction clutch controlled driven endless conveyor travelling over the bed-plate, flight rods secured to the conveyor, a vertically reciprocated cheese slicing head above the conveyor in alignment with the platen, a shiftable lock and release stop finger normally projecting above the bed-plate engageable with the slicing head frame to serve as a cheese centering device, means associated with the stop finger in the path of travel of the conveyor flights permitting release of the stop finger when engaged by a flight rod, lock and release means in the path of travel of the flight rods for stopping the conveyor when one of its rods confi es a eese -.between the amend t e s finger for, alignment-with the slicing-head. means for feeding the" endless-conveyor; in a reverse direction, and; cam means for actuating thelock and release means and the feed reversing means of the conveyor. r V I 3. A slicing machine for; cheese, or the like, comprising a frame having horizontal side panels, bed-plates supported by the panels, a slotted platen supported by the panels between the bedplates and upon the same horizontal plane thereof, front and rear shafts journaled in the ends of the panels, sprockets mounted upon the shafts, an endless conveyor chain carried thereby, transversely disposed flight rods carried by the conveyor, a drive sprocket mounted upon the rear shaft, a friction clutch connection between the drive sprocket and adjacent pair of conveyor sprockets, a stud shaft mounted in the frame, a cam faced disc and sprocket wheel secured thereto, a motor, a chain belt connection between the motor, stud shaft sprocket and friction clutch drive sprocket, a pair of vertically disposed con- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: V

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great-Britain Mar. 23, 1914 Number 

